An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c23.s1.2

v1.c23.s1.2

The earliest examples of antimony rods are from Harappa and Mohenjo-daro. The specimens from Mohenjo-daro are of copper/bronze and round in section with both ends bluntly rounded (Marshall, 1931, pp. 504-5; Mackay, 1938, pp. 475-6). At Harappa (Vats, 1940, pp. 390, 460) have been found, apart from a specimen which is rectangular in section, an antimony stopper-rod having the figure of ‘a dog biting the ear of a goat’ and a duck-headed kohl stick of terracotta. Kohl jars of terracotta, bronze/copper and stone have been found at Mohenjo-daro (Mackay, 1938, pp. 211, 322, 323, 450) and Chanhu-daro (Mackay, 1943, p. 177). The fluted cosmetic jar from Chanhu-daro is cast and the fluted ornamentation on this specimen, according to Mackay, ‘is unique as far as the Harappa culture is concerned.’ [cf. 18.2.]